More training, more results

After the relative disappointment of my last MTB race, I made sure I was fully recovered from the virus I had caught before I got back to training for my next one. I had my sights on the last round of the Southern XC as I was so impressed with the fourth round. So, I decided to continue to train hard in the pool and focus on the weaker aspects of my MTBing - technical singletrack. Whilst I'm quite fast on singletrack, I do tend to get a bit twitchy (in that I panic and tense up, just right for a fall!) on looser surfaces, roots and off-camber sections. There are plenty of such sections around Guildford, so I rode one of my favourite sections three times a week. Each lap is approximately six miles, so I would do one steady and one at race pace making sure I concentrated on the tricky bits. I basically learned to relax in the saddle and 'go with the flow more'.

This approach seemed to work.  I also got a stiffer set of race wheels built up, and this coupled with my new found confidence on the bike meant that I was going faster and, importantly, smoother.

So, when the race came around I was quietly confident that I would improve on my last preformance. To keep things simple, I wanted to improve my average speed, get consistent lap times and try and relax on the first lap more. Pace is key to MTB racing, especially during the first lap - you shouldn't never go out to fast. I was told by a veteran racer than an MTB race should be approached as a time-trial as very often you'll never really know what position you are in due to the pack nature of the race.

Sunday was great, a really fantastic course and one worth working hard on. My first lap was far more comfortable and it became clear to me that I must have been pretty unwell at the last round. I hit the first 4.6 mile lap in just under 24 minutes, but pretty much at the back of the pack. I had, however, saved some energy by drafting a slower rider and then overtaking him on  one of the hills - I decided that I would use this tactic on the second and third laps as I knew I was strong on the climbs. Interestingly, I was also proving to be quite fast on the tricky stuff and overtook a few riders on these sections - the practice worked.

My last two laps were enjoyable and around 24mins. I came home in 18th place, out of 26 finishers. Compared with the last round, I was 8mins behind the leader instead of 18mins. The guys behind me were quite some way in front of me at the last round - a good sign of my improving fitness and skill.

A good day in the saddle. Looking forward to some more!